Tire chain tightening device



Aug. 7, 1934. B. R, FUNK 1,969,602

TIRE CHAIN TIGHTENING DEVICE Original Filed Sept. 20. 1932 nvenior/Illorney Patented Aug. 7, 1934 UNITED STATES TIRE CHAIN TIGHTENINGDEVICE Buell R. Funk, Quinter, Kans.

Original application September 20, 1932, Serial No. 634,068. Divided andthis application September 27, 1933, Serial No. 691,210

3 Claims.

'Ihis invention relates to tightening devices of the type employed withtire chains and has as its object to generally improve upon suchdevices, the present application being a division of my co-pendingapplication Serial No. 634,068, filed September 20, 1932.

In accordance with the present invention, a tire chain tightening deviceis provided with means whereby the same may be applied to the tire chainin a manner to insure against casual or accidental opening of thetightening device.

The invention, together with its numerous objects and advantages will bebest understood from a. study of the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing wherein is illustrated apreferred embodiment of the invention.

It is to be understood at the outset that it is in nowise intended torestrict the invention to the precise details of construction,combination and arrangement of elements as illustrated and described,other than may be necessary to meet the requirements of the prior artand the scope of the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing: Figure 1 is a side elevational view of thechain tightening device, illustrating the application thereof.

Figure 2 is a plan View of the tightener.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 ofFigure 1.

Referring to the drawing by reference numerals it will be seen that theimproved tightener comprises a pair of relatively spaced plates 14, and15 accommodating therebetween the shanks of hooks 16 and 17.

Drilled through the plates adjacent opposite ends thereof and onopposite sides of median longitudinal lines of said plates are aperturesin which are placedl pivots 18 and 19. Upon the pivots 18 and 19 arefulcrumed the inner apertured ends of the Shanks of hooks 16 and 17. Oneof the plates, in the present instance plate 15 has secured to one edgethereof, preferably by being integral therewith, a diagonal lever 20that at its free end has a substantially U-shaped or hook part 21disposed at substantially right angles to the main body portion of thelever.

The bill of the hook 16 is adapted to detachably engage one of theterminal links 22 of the side chain, while the bill of the hook 17 isprovided with an aperture through which is extended the terminal link 23of said side chain.

The lever 20 has anchored to one side thereof as at 24 one end of a leafspring 25 and as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2, the free end of theleaf spring 25 is sprung away from the lever 20 and flatly engages theside 21a of the l hook 21 at the free end of said side of the hook. Asshown in Figures 1 and 2 hook 21 of the lever 20 is engaged with thelink 26 to which the terminal Ylink 22 is connected when the chaintightener is in its final position on the side chain.

Figures 1 and 2 show the chain tightener in closed position. Inmanipulating the parts to bring them to the position, shown, it will beapparent that the hook 16 is engaged with the terminal link 22 and thetightening device is then manipulated to bring the hook 21 intoengagement with the link 26 which is forced into the hook 21 between thefree end of the spring 25 and the side 21a of said hook 21. As soonA asthe link 26 passes into engagement with the hook 21 the spring 25, dueto its inherent resiliency, springs outwardly to the position shown inFigure 2 against the inner face of the side 21a of said hook 21 so thataccidental disengagement of the link 26 `with the hook 21 issubstantially entirely precluded. It will thus be seen that after theanti-skid chain has been contracted and tightened upon the body of thetire, and the parts of the chaintightener are in the position shown inthe drawing an accidental opening of the tightener is very unlikely.

What is'claimed is:V

1. A chain tightener comprising a pair of spaced plates, hooks pivotedat one end between said plates, a lever xedly secured to one of saidplates, and a link engaging hook on the free end of said lever.

2. A chain tightener comprising a pair of plates, a pair of pivotsconnecting said plates, one pivot of the pair being arranged at one endand at one side of the longitudinal median line of the plates, and theother of said pivots being arranged remote from the first named pivotand on the side of the longitudinal median line of the plates oppositeto the first named pivot, hooks having their Shanks fulcrumed upon saidpivots between said plates, a lever integral with one of said plates,and a link engaging hook on the free end of said lever.

3. In a device of the character described, a pair of plates, a pair ofhook members pivoted between said plates, said. hook members extendingin opposite directions, pivots for said

